[mmxylorider]

First impression when I first landed stateside in 2000? Everything is BIG, even the country! At that time in India - cars, malls, nightlife etc was just building up and 20 hrs later, a sudden exposure to things seen only in movies. Tall buildings, wide roads, big cars, supersize food portion size, taller people even, you name it. But that novelty wears off soon. Also, USA is a good place for well documented, english literate immigrants. Paperwork is easy and getting a credit card and a driver's license provides an unmatchable freedom.

One thing to learn though is the amount of patience displayed. Nobody is rushed into anything and standing in line, if person in front is taking longer - nobody gets annoyed.

[GutsyGibbon]

Originally Posted by RaghavEvoX

But Man !! Why don't you people have water in the toilets.

I hear you. And Americans also like toilet paper, so much so that they panic without it. I was getting to be that way during the initial days of Covid, then I installed a bidet. I am thinking my parents and guests (from India) may appreciate it. It has a seat warmer, hot water wash, hot air dry, deodorize, UV sanitize and LED lights. Below is a pic of my proud install.


I must say a bidet is bloody awesome, especially on a cold morning. I also found that a lot of Americans have it, just not in public toilets.

[vinya_jag]

A very close to my heart topic, your Question
"Re: My first impression about the USA. What's yours?"

I too hadn't travelled to the US for good part of 32 years of my life, but had been to a few other places before that. Had travelled to various cities within australia, on work during the 2006 times, and then with my wife, again during 2013 on a tour, and a few other Asian countries as well.
I had seen the original culture shock back in 2006, on my first trip to Sydney. I was prepared for a bigger surprise on my first visit to the US.

But it was nothing like what I had expected. It was more of a mind shock than anything else. It was an anticlimax of sorts. The first taxi ride out of the airport in SF, to Sunnyvale was a surprise. 8 lanes of cars moving in one direction, was something beyond my imagination. What a waste, I felt. A little later, California area, had only single storey buildings, again what a waste, I felt. Our hotel, was made of wood, and the road next to it had a swooosh sound coming all the while, while my Sydney apartment was on the 22nd floor, overlooking the darling harbour, when we watched Australia day unfold. And I was here, holed in a box.

And next, I am looking for a place to eat, and can't find a cafe closeby, had to walk a mile, Sydney aparment had a brilliant cafe on the ground floor. Next day, an office visit. I am overwhelmed by the offices that I am seeing around me, Linked in, Cisco, Wells Fargo, Google, more Cisco, and more Cisco and more google. There were just software engineers all around me, and moslty Indians, and my mind wasn't prepared for this. I felt, I was attending a Oracle Walk IN Job interview. Thousands and thousands of men and women of the same kind, talking software terminiologies, talking science, talking technology. Phew, Yuck. And I just had to remember my Sydney days, oh Gosh, what a different world that was, maybe a different era that was. Kent street, Sydney CBD, bankers walking at a franetic pace, cafes open 24 hours, the sound of porcelein plates, smell of fresh coffee, Ferraris Zooming on the roads.

The worst was in store still, a week after landing in Sunnyvale, wanted to do some shopping, and we set off to San Jose downtown, and this was a rude shock. We had to catch a bus, which took us into the Downtown area, and I couldn't see a downtown there. A barber shop, a couple of cheap belt shops, some medicine stores and that was it. And at 6PM, we took a bus back to our Sunnyvale apartment, and we were in the middle of a few homeless folks, and it felt like I was travelling at 12 AM in a Tempo Traveller on the outskirts of Bangalore, with a few drunkards in company.

By now, my mind was transformed. Had nothing much to hope for. A couple of weeks later, we tried the Santa Cruz beach, and that was underwhelming to say the least, I mean, after a Visit to Bondi beach, this place felt worse than Juhu. An exhibition center, lots of people, burger shops, casinos, all very next to a beach with grey waters. Oh No.

And then, friends came, visited us, took us to movie theaters, and we weren't pleased one bit, the way they were living. They were interns for sure, trying to find there feet in the foreign land, but it was stomach churning for me, to see them struggling their way, so far away from home, trying to make their mark, eeking out a decent life, living like migrants.

But all this changed, over the next few weeks, and our next few visits. My friends took me to nicer places, drove us to SF, those green roads were out of the world now, the sea to the left, mountains to the right, Wow. The SF area, the Ghiradeli square. We walked the piers. Now this was more like the ROCKs in Sydney. So much history, so much culture shift. Bring it on.

Then visited my other friend in San Diego, visited a lot of restaurants. By now, I was liking it.

And the next visit, it had all changed. Those who were struggling earlier, were now settled, had nicer cars, we were going to better places. Muir woods, what a different world it was, San Antonio Rancho, the telescope, the Vegan restaurants, the Park walks, Volleyball matches. I was seeing a better life, for everyone.

But, to summarize, I feel, US is a strange world, with various sides to it, and it throws up surprises more than any other country, maybe.

[arunrajk81]

My first visit was during 2006 to Bay Area, California and the first thing I felt was its Clean everywhere. Still some people call California as not clean compared to other states. Next is time/location doesn’t matter for doing Jogging/exercise. I can see people jogging around lunch time and back to work after that. One can see more outdoor oriented people doing camping, hiking, mountain biking and recreational actives than in India. Regarding health, I can see both extremes, being extremely health conscious by doing exercise and avoiding junk foods and same time some other having only junk foods and obesity issues. Nobody cares what you are doing if it’s something which is not concerning to them, same time suspicious activity get reported more often around neighborhoods. Tons of Opportunity for partying, night life, outdoor adventures etc based on your interest.

Because of Tech industry and mixed population in Bay Area, One should go to villages outside Bay Area or to other States to see proper American Life and culture. Sometimes I used to avoid freeways and drive specifically via villages during weekend return trips.

One negative side is affordability of health insurance. Even if the health care is very good, some hospitals are there to rip you off if they find any issues with your health insurance or going to reimbursement mode from insurance companies. Once such incident happened to my friend was his son got ill and started continuously vomiting during night. He has to take him Emergency care. (Urgent care and Emergency care are different in US and most of urgent care won’t be available after 9pm) The emergency care he went was not in the network supported by his insurance company and also he just arrived US and even if he is covered from his job, he doesn't have insurance id card to show in the hospital i guess. Care provided was good and they give the kid some medicine and vomiting immediately stopped. After few weeks, the bill he got was $14k for around 45 minutes he spends in hospital. Later he talked to his insurance/hospital and got it fixed. Still insurance company paid 10k to the hospital and rest was his responsibility. I wonder how the itemized bill looks like in this case. I also had a related incident when my parents visited me in US.

[landcruiser123]

I've toured US as a kid in 2003 and interned at 2016. I love the country and I'm glad to have got the chance to live in the country after starting my graduate studies in 2017. The best way to experience the country is living in it. I've spent about 20 months in MN for grad school and about 14 months working in CA. I've toured the cities and had enough of them. I had plans to tour many a few of the famous national parks this year, but I don't need to tell you what happened. :(

There are many positives and negatives of this country, just like any society. But in context, the university eduction is still the best in the world. The real eye-opener for me is the low-tech lives of people in the rural areas - many people in Minnesota used wood fired heating systems even today. Very very surprising for a country that considers itself technologically advanced.


Here are a few images of places I've really enjoyed:
Nov 2018: My friends' cousins and I (not in the picure) walking on a Frozen Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota.


May 2019: Niagara Falls in the night with my parents after my graduation


Dec 2019: Badwater Basin, the lowest in point in the USA (-282 ft) in Death vally. Due to the rains, there was inch of water over the salt flats


Jan 2020: A photo from a 49 mile bicycle ride on CA SR 1. This was somewhere between Pescadero and Santa Cruz. The Pacific is magical.

[BroodVarun]

Ah the US. There many things to like and not to like as well.

I have been there twice over the last two years. Went to Chicago, Las Vegas, Seattle and New York. Few things which stood out:

1. For some reason, I never felt safe in New York. People tend to stare, and there are a lot of crazies out there. Horrible experience.

• Witnessed an American guy bully an Indian for his faith. Kept calling him Vishnu and bullying him to accept Jesus.
• Saw a homeless man pass out on the street.
• Saw a purse snatching in Madison square.
• Saw a naked guy just doing his thing on a subway bench.

2. Chicago was wonderful. So many things to see. There is an Architectural boat ride, which shows you all the historic building through a river boat ride. Highly recommended. However, most people asked me to avoid going out alone in the city. Although I did venture out to visit the museum and walk the millennium mile.

3. Seattle. My sister lives here. A wonderful, wonderful place. People are nice. Infrastructure is fabulous. And the nature hikes are really good. Mt Ranier hike is highly recommended.

4. Las Vegas: As seen in movies. So much glamour and excitement! Some of the best clubs in the world. Lost a decent amount of money in craps .

Some pictures from my trips:

Chicago - Boat ride


Vegas


New York with my cousin



Seattle

[mmxylorider]

Another impressionable thing (and probably not USA specific) is the basic civility and courtesy in day to day interactions. Be it the casual greeting to a stranger or the chivalrous behavior in a public place or the unrequired thanks - all this was known but very different to experience in person. It took a while to get used to it. A smile goes a long way...

[vb-saan]

My first few visit to the US was back in 2009 and 2010 – to New York/New Jersey and I was not impressed. Those were pure work trips and the big brash NYC was nothing exciting for me, especially going from Singapore it did not feel any special. Another reason probably could be the high expectations fed by Bollywood movies – think of Preity Zinta jogging in Central Park and catching a breath under Brooklyn bridge

Was back there in 2015 and 2016, almost a month long trip each time, and those trips were to Philadelphia. Through those trips, I started I was totally in awe of the place, especially downtown Philly have that history, character, and charm. Traveled to the east coast a few times again and each of those trips were thoroughly enjoyable. Halloween (last year) in the US was another great experience.

Originally Posted by GTO

Man, I love the States!

I can totally relate to this. One of the best place to rent a car (cheap) and explore on a leisurely pace. Every place has its negatives, but for me the positives outweighs the negatives. So much that the family still talks about the west coast holiday during last Christmas

[Ride_4_Fortune]

I lived for a couple of years in the US of A in the Mid-West (Indiana). Did few road trips close to 20,000 miles covering 30 states (out of 50) including Alaska.

The best part of USA is the natural beauty and the way they have preserved it. So is the reason why I liked states like Colorado, Wyoming, Montana for the massive forest reserves. One gets to see from forests to deserts to glaciers to even Northern lights (I got to see them in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan). A collage of some of my trips in North America. You can as well see some places from Mexico (Yucatan) and Canada (British Columbia, Alberta) in the collage !

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by GTO

Man, I love the States!

My view exactly!

Fact of matter is, the US turns out to be a very different experience for an individual, depending on what he expects or wants to do in that country. It's the land of opportunities, in a multi-facet way. Sharing a few basis my conversations and observations over my ~3 year stay in the US.


- A vast 'tourist' majority who travel to the US on a tourist or business matter just to experience and see the US of A. Depending on their expectations and where they land up, they find it a great experience or kinda disappointing (vis-a-vis what they saw/heard in movies & from others)

- Another huge segment of folks who moved to the US through the educational and/or work visa route. This is the most varied set of folks with a wide range of personalities and a very different set of experiences

- Several folks (ladies especially) have moved/lived there just to escape the 'rules' of the Indian culture and be free. They are happy and can't think of coming back to India.

And so many more - the list is endless.

I went there with an open mind - and loved the independence you get there. Got fitter on the way, experienced the highs and lows of the US healthcare through a major health incident, explored a wide set of physical and outdoor activities that seem impossible in India (but now opening up) and so much more.

I refused to get into the generic Indian mindset - refused to take accommodation in Indian dominated areas and societies, tried all the different / other cuisines (the choices and spread are awesome), tried to connect and made friends with as much as local and other country immigrants to learn from them and so on.

Point of the matter is - there are different US lifestyles - my three years were spent in three very different states/cities and with varying experiences - from living in downtown Manhattan for a year paying a fortune (and loving it!) to living in rural Carolinas for over an year with the Smoky mountains just an hour away.

If given a chance, I'd go again for sure - there are so many things yet to do - I still have to visit Niagara falls of all things or visit the Empire state building (even though I lived just a few blocks from it)

[sup?]

Originally Posted by anand.shankar

Dallas and Austin are the only 2 cities in have visited in the US, and US is the only foreign country I've been to, Ive never fancied immigration as an option.

First impressions, the place looks exactly as in the movies..

Dallas is simply awesome compared to anything in India, the acres of space, over planned infrastructure, sprawling lawns and wooded areas are thing you can only dream of in India. Am sure the other cities are equally good or even better.

One thing I noticed is the lack of public transport and somewhat poor occupancy in them. Again this observation is for just one city, probably because of the fact that cant really walk around. I tried it was almost impossible to walk and get anywhere. Also the poorer neighborhoods though look cleaner and better off than the slums here, surely look dangerous.and the casual mugger types, who come start a conversation to ask money etc is a bit scary.

I studied in Arlington, which is a suburb of Dallas. The people of the city famously refused the chance to have public transport when there was a referendum. I can understand why because the road infra is amazing and even the tiniest of businesses have sprawling parking lots. The lack of public transport was a little irritating initially but I got my license and bought a cheap used car and the freedom to go anywhere you want to anytime you want is something I got used to very soon. I became so lazy I wouldn't even walk to the 7/11 that was 300 meters from my apartment. The US is amazing for people who love to drive.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by sup?

I studied in Arlington, which is a suburb of Dallas.

Our American HQ is at Legacy Drive, Plano, , another suburb of Dallas. I usually stay in the Marriott hotel just down the road along Legacy drive. Less than 800m. It is impossible to walk from the hotel to the office! There are no sidewalks, no pedestrian crossings! You have to cross the Northern toll Road. No busses.

So the only way is to get in your car and drive! The USA is one of those countries in the world, where I will always rent a car straight away at the airport. Public transport outside some major Cities is at best pathetic, mostly non-existent and walking is no option either. Too hot, too far and no sidewalks is the standard in the USA.

Mind you, in the summer in the Dallas area you don’t want to be outdoors at all, let alone walk. Ferociously hot!

Jeroen

[Altocumulus]

I had quite a few opportunities to visit US thanks to my work. I completely agree with you about visiting US often but not settle there. I have been to NYC, DC, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, SF, LA, LV, etc and stayed for few weeks or visited multiple times.

However, my view on DC vs NYC is completely opposite. I loved, love , will always love NYC and hated, was bored in DC. My hotel was always in Times Square, when in NYC and I can just walk around the entire day and night. If I am ever forced to stay in US, Manhattan would be my condition for it.

[RaghavEvoX]

Originally Posted by BroodVarun

Ah the US. There many things to like and not to like as well.

1. For some reason, I never felt safe in New York. People tend to stare, and there are a lot of crazies out there. Horrible experience.[list]

I echo the same views. I felt the same in NY. Except for the good Manhattan part of the NY, I didn't feel that safe. Some metro stations were so dull with some creepy guy standing alone and staring as if to pounce on me at any moment.

And many advises from friends to be more careful whenever walking alone in the downtown area only increased my apprehension about the place.

Originally Posted by Altocumulus

However, my view on DC vs NYC is completely opposite. I loved, love , will always love NYC and hated, was bored in DC. My hotel was always in Times Square, when in NYC and I can just walk around the entire day and night. If I am ever forced to stay in US, Manhattan would be my condition for it.

We see the places as they are but the love-hate view is probably because of the individual perspectives and preferences. I preferred DC to NY because it was less chaotic, less fancy and glamorous and not that touristy kind of place. DC is a completely calm city after office hours.

Originally Posted by virajmore03

Hi Raghav, First I saw that you traveled from Chennai to the US and i thought well that's similar to my trip. Then I read you went to Washington DC for work, again the same thought. You then mentioned about going there on a G4 VISA and then I was sure that we work for the same organization. Glad you posted your picture in the last post. I could immediately recognize you

It's a small world after all !

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by RaghavEvoX

I echo the same views. I felt the same in NY. Except for the good Manhattan part of the NY, I didn't feel that safe. Some metro stations were so dull with some creepy guy standing alone and staring as if to pounce on me at any moment.

If you found today's NYC scary, wonder how you would have found pre-Giuliani NYC.

When I joined my MBA, I was supposed to write all my exams at World Trade Center, where my UK university had their office. Then it got destroyed before I could write my first exam. So I wrote exams at different exam centers all around Manhattan (Wall Street, Rockefeller center, etc), but I wrote most of the exams at Lehman College, Bronx.

First time I found that we were supposed to write at Bronx, I almost cancelled the exam. But there was no other choice. So I drove my Acura TL from NJ to Bronx and parked in some street. I almost didn't expect the car when I came back. Later I felt the bad reputation of Bronx was exaggerated, I never felt any fear walking/parking/driving around Lehman college many more times.